Chapter 05
Cian finally realized that something had changed in him — but sleep had already taken over.
All the thoughts that had filled his head a moment ago disappeared, and the Empress’s voice began to echo softly in his mind, painting scenes like a dream.
He imagined a man named Haide with light green hair and glasses, handing the Empress a flower — then taking it back, stingy and petty.
“For our one-year anniversary, I gave him a beautiful fountain pen,” the Empress’s gentle voice murmured, “but he only gave me one cookie, saying he baked it himself. Later, I found out he bought it on sale from a bakery!”
Now Cian saw another man — a pointy-chinned one named Taylor — proudly handing her a poorly wrapped cookie like it was something precious.
“When I said I was a little disappointed, he yelled at me! Said he didn’t know I was the type of woman who only cared about money!”
He could almost see it: the tiny Empress looking hurt while the petty man angrily stuffed the cookie into his mouth.
At last, Cian realized what he was hearing — his wife was telling him stories about the men she’d dated before.
It was a strange, bold thing to talk about with one’s husband on their wedding night.
Then again, he didn’t have much room to judge — after all, he had tried to strangle her that same night.
‘Still…’
Where on earth had she found such ridiculous men? Were they the ones she kept in her palace harem?
Even half-asleep, the thought made Cian frown faintly.
He hadn’t cared enough to check what the Empress did, but the ministers had occasionally mentioned her in reports — something about scandalous rumors and troublesome behavior.
“Well, there was one decent guy. His name was Se-hun—no, I mean, Saint,” she continued, her tone softer. “He always paid for our meals, and he wrote me letters every time we met. So romantic, right?”
Cian pictured some good-looking fool scribbling a note on a napkin while the Empress smiled warmly at him.
‘…’
A strange feeling stirred in his chest.
He wasn’t sure why. Maybe because, hearing her voice as she reminisced, he could almost sense the emotions she felt back then — joy, disappointment, nostalgia.
Even half-asleep, his brow twitched. The Empress immediately shushed him, placing a gentle hand on him as if to soothe a restless child.
Her touch was soft — disarmingly so — sweet enough to melt away the last of his strength.
“But I’m fine now,” she whispered. “I already got rid of all those men. Well… there are still a few left in the harem, but it’s all in the past now.”
She giggled softly, patting his chest.
Completely unaware that she was comforting the very man whose wife’s reputation had been destroyed by those same fools.
Cian found himself wondering.
He’d believed the rumors — that the Empress was a corrupt woman, just like her greedy father. But maybe… she was simply weak-hearted and easy to fool?
‘Still, at least she says she ended it herself. Guess she’s not a total fool after all.’
That was his final thought before his consciousness slipped away.
The throbbing in his head disappeared completely, replaced by blank calm.
“Good night, Your Majesty,” the Empress whispered.
As her sweet voice faded, one last phrase replayed in his mind — the one that had slipped out earlier like an afterthought.
“I got rid of most of them… but I kept a few.”
And just before Cian drifted into deep sleep, one thought flickered in his mind:
…Why did she keep them?
***
Cian woke early the next morning.
He blinked slowly, feeling… refreshed?
‘What is this feeling?’
Then he noticed it — the small, warm presence beside him.
“……”
He remembered everything. The soft voice that had lulled him to sleep, the strange calm that had followed. It had been like falling under a spell.
Turning his head, he saw the Empress — silver-haired, fast asleep.
Her delicate hand rested lightly on his chest. Her skin was pale and soft, almost fragile.
He frowned slightly and gently lifted her hand away — not tenderly, just mechanically, like a soldier moving a newborn colt aside.
His wife, huh.
Cian stood, gazing down at her blankly.
Maybe because she hadn’t cried, screamed, or disturbed him last night… but for the first time, her presence didn’t feel unpleasant.
‘That’s unexpected.’
And the fact that he had slept soundly — that was even more shocking.
No sleeping potion had ever worked, yet somehow her strange, steady voice had made him fall asleep instantly — deeply enough that even an assassin could’ve come and gone unnoticed.
‘What did she do to me?’
He stared at the sleeping woman suspiciously. Of course, she didn’t answer.
‘Whatever it was,’ he thought, ‘at least I can think clearly again.’
The fog in his mind was gone. For the first time in weeks, he wasn’t plagued by pain or noise.
He even felt like catching up on state affairs — the paperwork that had piled up during his illness.
As the morning light grew brighter, Cian turned to leave the room.
But when his hand reached for the door, he hesitated — then, instead of yanking it open as usual, he turned the handle quietly.
Click.
No noise. Good.
He stepped into the hall but glanced back once.
‘Let’s call it… repayment.’
She had helped him sleep; the least he could do was let her continue sleeping peacefully.
Just like that, he justified this unfamiliar act of consideration — and walked away.
But something faint and irritating lingered at the edge of his thoughts.
Something she’d said, looping in his head like a spell because he’d heard it too many times before falling asleep.
“I got rid of all the men… except a few.”
‘…Who are the ones she kept?’
***
Chirp, chirp.
“Ahh, what a good sleep.”
I stretched wide, refreshed. A good bed really was the secret to happiness.
But something felt… off. Like I’d forgotten something important.
I blinked a few times — then noticed the slightly rumpled side of the bed — and froze.
The Emperor!
Right! I’d spent the night with the male lead — the Emperor!
I’d stayed up late, telling my “love story” version of white noise until he finally fell asleep.
After that, I’d watched him closely to make sure he didn’t wake up — ready to start another “lullaby session” if necessary.
He’d slept soundly, breathing evenly, his long eyelashes fluttering slightly. I’d stared, marveling that a man could look that pretty while asleep…
And then I must have dozed off myself.
“Guess he woke up first.”
I scratched my cheek, feeling a little disappointed. Not that I had anything to say to him, but it’d be nice to build some rapport — friendship starts with small talk, right?
‘Alright. Time to move to the next stage — health management!’
Now that I’d cleaned up the harem and improved my image, I could focus on wellness branding.
I turned to my ever-efficient head maid.
“Hey, Lauren. Am I sick anywhere?”
“…Are you planning to be, Your Majesty?” she asked carefully, flipping open her schedule book.
“As always, the morning after a union night, the Duke Celeste has a tea appointment scheduled with you. He’s due to arrive in two hours.”
“Oh, come on.”
I frowned.
‘Why does my father meet me every single morning after my wedding nights?’
Unfortunately, this detail wasn’t in the original novel, so I had no memories to rely on.
I stood up with mock seriousness.
“Actually, now that I think about it, I am feeling sick. Could you tell Father to go home?”
“But, Your Majesty,” Lauren said, startled, “the Duke only ever requests audiences with you personally. And, well, you’ve always looked forward to those meetings.”
“I have?”
“Yes.”
“Then starting today, I don’t.”
More important things to do!
Lauren blinked, clearly thrown by my sudden change of attitude. But she recovered quickly and bowed.
“Very well, Your Majesty. I’ll deliver your message. It’s fortunate that the Emperor did not lose control last night — the Duke will be relieved to hear the union ended peacefully.”
“Perfect. Anyway, Lauren — where can I find my royal physician?”
“This way, Your Majesty.”
Lauren still looked puzzled but secretly seemed relieved.
Apparently, the infamous temperamental Empress behaving calmly two days in a row was cause for celebration.
Even the younger maids following behind me looked visibly relaxed.
‘See? It’s easier to raise your reputation from 0 to 50 than from 90 to 100.’
Feeling very proud of myself, I followed Lauren toward the physician’s office — the royal doctor named Felix.
***
“The Empress has arrived!”
The moment I entered, a blond man jumped up from his chair.
His “clinic” looked more like a noble’s drawing room than a medical office.
“Your Majesty! You shouldn’t have come all this way! If you’d summoned me, I would’ve run here barefoot!”
Dr. Felix smiled warmly — and wow, he was handsome. With his bright hair and charming grin, the whole room suddenly felt like a ballroom.
‘Did Leah pick her doctor based on looks?’
Well, not that I was complaining. Eye candy is still pleasant to look at.
I smiled back.
“It’s fine. The one who needs help should come, right? I just have a few questions.”
“Of course! Please, have a seat.”
He guided me to the couch — and then sat right next to me.
“Um… personal space? Ever heard of it?”
“Pardon? But last time you said you could hear me better like this.”
Oh, great. Apparently, past-Leah had been flirting with her doctor too. My karma just kept piling up.
I scooted away to the other end of the sofa.
“Ahem. Anyway, I’ve been getting more interested in health lately. I’d like to get a full checkup. Oh, and maybe a body-type analysis? I want to know what medicines or foods suit me best — or if I have any allergies.”
A good excuse — and it might even help me detect poisoning attempts later. If my health suddenly changed, I’d know someone was trying something.
“So, how’s my condition right now? You’re my physician, you should know better than anyone.”
I looked at him eagerly.
Felix propped his chin on his hand and gave me a sweet, almost flirtatious smile.
Then he said, with glimmering eyes,
“I don’t know.”
“…If you need more tests, we can sched—”
“I don’t know,” he interrupted smoothly, leaning closer. “What I do know is not about your body’s condition… but its melody.”
Felix flashed a dazzling smile, his white teeth practically sparkling.
Lauren and the maids all looked away with practiced blank faces.
I stared at him, dumbfounded.
What the hell was he even talking about?
